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On Saturday evening, July 8, family of IDF soldier Hadar Goldin, whose body is held by Hamas terrorists in Gaza, issued a statement about reports on a possible deal with the Islamists.

The statement said that the family of an officer nothing is known about the parameters of a possible transaction and about the fact.

«For the last three years we have lived between hopes and disappointments. We know nothing about any deal, and we continue to pray for the speedy return of our son and brother to Israel, to the bosom of the family.»

Relatives of Hadar Goldin also noted that they receive information only from official sources in Israel. «We must not play into the hands of Hamas,» — said in a statement.

Earlier, the Lebanese newspaper «al-Akbar» reported that Israel and Hamas are closer than ever to implementation of the first phase of the deal to return the bodies of IDF soldiers Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul, presumed dead, during the operation «Indestructible rock», as well as three Israeli civilians, Faith (Abraham) Mengistu, Hisham al-Sayyad and Jumaa Ibrahim Abu Ganim.

The deal, if it takes place, will be carried out with the mediation of Russia, Egypt and the United Nations.

As for the Hamas leadership, it insists on the release of all the terrorists released in the «Shalit deal», and re-arrested in the period since 2011.

On the evening of 8 July, Palestinian sources commented on the possible deal, saying that so far there is no breakthrough in the indirect talks between the parties. According to sources, large problems exist as the negotiations on the implementation as the first stage of the transaction (the return of the bodies of servicemen), and the second (the return to Israel of civilians detained in the Gaza strip).

The family of Hadar Goldin: «We don’t know anything about a possible deal with Hamas» 09.07.2017